Get your own robotic doppelganger

You can own your very own robotic doppelganger, just like roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro (thatâ€™s Hiroshi on the right)

Are you the kind of person that likes their own company? Maybe you're just a narcissist? Well Japanese department store operator Sogo & Seibu have just the thing for you. As part of a New Year’s promotional sale Sogo, Seibu, and Robinson’s department stores will offer people the chance to buy a humanoid robot custom-built to look, move and sound just like themselves.

The high-tech doppelgangers will be built by Kokoro, the Japanese robotics firm responsible for a line of Actroid human-like robotic receptionists.

The robots will be designed to match the buyer’s face, body, hair, eyes and eyelashes. Facial expressions and upper body movements will be modeled on those of the buyer, while recordings of the buyer’s voice will form the basis of the robot’s speech. It's debatable whether they look more or less freaky than the pint-sized personalized bots manufactured by another Japanese company, but either way they're right up there on the freak-o-meter.

Orders for your robotic double can be made at any of Japan’s 28 Sogo, Seibu, or Robinson’s department stores from January 1 to 3, 2010. But be warned; only two robots will be available. If more than two orders are received the lucky buyers will be selected by a random lottery. However, with a price tag of 20.1 million yen (US$223,000) there’s hardly likely to be a line reaching around the block.

Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continued through a number of university courses and crappy jobs until 2008, when his interests found a home at Gizmag. All articles by Darren Quick